Plaque-cleaning machine.



A. L. BAUSMAN.

PLAQUE CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2. \917- 3 SHEETS-SHEET IIHIIHI II H Patentd Aug. 13, 1918.

N N &

i \Q Q i 3% I N V EN TOR. WI TNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

A L; BAUSMAN.

PLAQUE CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 12. I79] 7- Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' IN V EN TOR. WITNESSES:

A TTORNEYS. $1

A. L. BAUSMAN.

PLAQUE CLEANlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. x917.

Patented Aug.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES. wcilffm IJNITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALO NZO LINTON BAUSMAN, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO' NATIOLlAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF'SPRING-FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF 7 MASSACHUSETTS.

To all whom it may concern: 1

1 Be it known that I, 'ALoNzo" LINTON BAUSMAN, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Chicopee, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Plaque Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for cleaning plaques and the like. lWy prior Patent No.-'928,730, dated July 20,1909, illustrates the prior art in machines of this character. I

- In confectionery manufacture; it is customary to employ strips of waxed paper, technically known as plaques,on which confections areplaced after they have been coated and usually while the coating is still soft. In'removingthe coated confections from the plaques, particles-of the-coating material sometimes adhere to the waxed surface, and, after an accumulation of such particles, the plaques require cleaning. Heretofore, plaques have been cleaned by 'brush ing or by beating with rotatable spring fingers. A disadvantage, in the priormethods of removing the particles of'coating material from the plaques lies in thefact that thevery agentsemployed to loosen the particles may act to work'the latter into the waxed coating with the result that the plaques,.although apparently'clean, are not clean in fact. Furthermore, a brushing action, in order to be effective in loosening and removing the particles, must bear with relatively large pressure on the plaques and thus such action tends to wear and injure the wax coating of the plaques, rendering. the life of the latter relatively short.

, According to one feature of the invention, a

the particles adhering to the plaques are first loosened by a plowing action with relatively small pressure on the plaques, and the loosened particles are subsequently removed by lightly brushing them from the plaques, the arrangement being characterized in that the particles are effectively removed without injuring the waxedcoating of theplaques and without tending to rub the particles into the waxed surface.

According to another feature of the invention, the relatively large lumps of coating material on the plaques are first subdivided into smaller particles by a light plow ing action, and such particles as are loosened rLA UE-CLEANIN MACHINE.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed'september 12, 1917. Serial No. 190,911.

Patented by this action are subsequently lightly brushed from the plaques before the final plowing and brushing operations. ,7 o

According to another feature of the in vention, the final plowing action to loosen the relatively small particles is I accomplished. by plowing members, which approach the particles from different angles and substantially opposite directions for. the purpose of more effectively loosening the particles and insuring that such of the lat ter as may adhere to the plaques after the Aug. 13,1918.

operation of one member .Will be subsequently loosened bythe operation of another member.

. According to a. further feature of'the in.- vention, the plowing and brushing actions are directed substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the plaques, and the loosened particles are brushed laterally from the plaques into suitable receptacles.

Other features of the invention will appear in the following description and in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig.- 2 is an elevational View of the left end of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a perspective View of a fragment of the conveying belt showing the plaque holding flaps thereon I Figs. 5 and 6 "are detail cross sectiona views taken on the lines 55 and 66, re-' spectively, of Fig. 1; and

. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a portion of the cleaning mechanism.

' Referring to these drawings, reference letter A indicates'the main frame of the machine and rotatably mounted in opposite ends of frame A are rolls 10 and 11 (Fig. 2). over which runs an endless belt 12 of suitable material, as canvas, for example. Roll 11 is mounted for adjustment longitudinally in a manner-clearly shown in Fig. 2, and by moving screws 13 the tension of belt 12 may be varied as desired. I The belt is driven from roll 10 to which is fixed a gear 14, and the latter is engaged by a pinion 15 to which is fixed agearlfi. The latter is driven by a pinion 17 on the main drive shaft 18 of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. -The upper travel of belt l2.is-substantially horizontal and the belt iii-its upper travel moves with its under face contiguous with and supported by a. table 19 carried by frames A.

'I he belt 12 isprovided at suitab'lyspaced intervals with flaps 20 which are suitably secured thereto, as by stitching along one edge. The plaques, indicated by reference letter p, are simply paper strips coated with wax or the like. As indicated in Fig, t, the-plaquesare held to the conveyer belt 12 by inserting the leading end of each plaque in under a flap 20. The flaps are so constructed that they will of themselves frictionally hold the plaques in position on belt 12, during the upper travel of the latter. During the lower travel of? the belt and as the latter travelsaround the rolls Y10 and 11, the flaps 20 may open to someextent as indicated in Fig. 2. r

vVit-h the illustratedembodiment ofthe invention, the plaques to be cleaned areinse-rted in under flaps .20 by an operator who stands at the right hand endbfthemachine (Fig. 2), andcthe plaques are arranged to travel to the left hand end of the machine andto the under side of roll-10, wherefrom they may drop into'a suitable receptacle not shown.

A curved guide plate 21, supported from frame A in concentricalrelation with roll 10 and closely adjacent the periphery thereof, is arranged to hold the flaps 2O closed as they travel betweenthe guide 21 and roll and to hold the freeend ofjthe plaques from falling until they have been carried to the desired point. As the'flaps 20 start to travel on-the upper periphery of'roll 10, the flaps may open up to an extent suflicient to release their frictiona-l'grip onthe plaques 0. To insure that the latter are carried wit-h the belt at this point, irrespective. of whether or not the flaps open up in the manner described, a roll 23 (Fig. 1) is mounted in spring pressed bearings-24 (Fig.2) so-that it yieldingly forces the plaques p againstthe conveyer belt. Roll 23 is driven by a pinion 25 which meshes with the described gear 1%. The driving connections are such that roll 23 is driven atthe same surface speedas belt 12, whereby the plaques are carried with the belt as the latter travels around roll 10, and the grip of the flaps need not be reliednpon to hold the plaques to the belt during this portion of their travel.

t is to be noted that the leading ends of the plaques 2?, those inserted under flaps 20, are ordinarily free from chocolate and the like because they are usually held by like flaps when used in the ordinary conmiercial automatic coating machine to receive the coated goods and therefore require no cleaning.- It is also to be noted. that roll 23 is so located as to engage the plaques only after the latter have been cleaned by the means to be described.

The mechanism for cleaning the plaques comprises reciprocatory members 30, 31, and 32, and brushes33 and 34, allmounted to traveltransversely relatively to the conveying belt 12. The members-30, 31, and 32 are mounted to slide longitudinally and vertically in suitable guides 35, and, as shown in Fig. 2, are yieldably forced against the plaqueson belt 12 by springs 36, the tension of which is adjustable by thumb screws 37. Each member 30, 31,-aud 32 is pivotally connected neartits centraliportion to one endof a :rod 38 (see Fig. 3'.) and on the other end of the latter is 'aneccentric strap 39which embracescanzeccentric 10, fixed on a shaft 41, supported .in longitudinal relation on frame A. The eccentrics to for members31 and 32 are preferably arranged :in opposition, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The brushes 33 and iii-are each mounted onan endlessband as which is carried by pulleys e3 and:. l4,,the former. being fixed to shaft 41 and the latter being loosely mounted on a stud 15. Each stud, as shown in Fig. 3,1isadjustably mounted in a bracket secured to frame A, and, by moving the stud, the tension of band a2 may be adjusted as desired; An idler pulley 16, adjustably mounted in abracket secured'to frame A, as shown inFig. 3, directs theylower travel'of 'belt l2-in parallel relation with the table '19.

The shaft 11 is connected by a gear train .48,

as best shown in Fig. 3, to a shaft l9, and the latter is connected by bevel gears 50 (Figs. 2 and-3) to the described main drive shaft 18. Preferably, receptacles are remov.- ably secured to frame A, as indicated in Fig. 7, and belts 12 are arranged to travel through the receptaclestodeposittherein the particles sweptfroni plaques :19 by the'brushes.

Secured to the under face ofmember 30 and arrangediin longitudinally spaced parallel relation thereon are a plurality of sub stantially U-sha-ped wires 51, and the cross bar portion of the U, which is bent in corrugated or undulatoryform, is arranged to engage the plaques p. The wires 51, as shown in Fig. l, are slightly inclined to the direction of travelof belt 12 and, preferably, the inclination adopted is such that one end of each corrugated portion of the wires 51 is disposed substantially opposite on member 30 from the opposite end of'the corrugated portionof the next succeeding wire. In this way, a plowin rather than a scraping action results,..an it is insured that all portions of the plaque will be. engaged by the Wires.

The member 31 has similarly mounted and similarly spaced U-sha-ped wires 52 and, as shown inFig. 5, the=cross bar portions of the-U are straight andpar allel to the member 31. Wires 52 are also inclined to the direction of travel of belt 12 but preferably are inclined oppositely to the wires 51, as

shown in Fig. 1. The member-32 is also pro vided with U-shaped wires 53 which are identical in form with the Wires 52, shown in Fig. 5. Wires 53, as shown in Fig. l, are inclined to the direction of travel of belt 12 and preferably oppositely inclined to wires 52. Both sets of wires 52 and 53 are pref erably inclined, as described in connectionwith'the wires 51, so that an end of each lies substantially opposite the opposite end of the next succeeding wire.

In operation, the plaques are inserted under flaps 20, as described, and thereby caused to travel with the belt. The sets of reciprocable wires and the traveling brushes are arranged to bear but lightly-on the plaques p and do not exert sufficient :force onthe latter to overcome the frictional engagement of the plaques with the flaps 20 or with belt 12. The plaques first travel in'under the set of Wires 51 and these wires are being reciprocated at a speed somewhat higher than that of the conveyer. The large number of corrugated wires 51 are thus moved back and, forth on the plaque and. plow through the relatively large deposits or lumps of chocolate or other like material. thecorrugated wires is to break up and subdivide the larger deposits so that they may be removed more readily by the other por-, tions of the cleaning mechanism. The wires. 51 will, however, break off and loosen acertain amount of the material from the plaques and such loosened portions aresubsequently removed by the continuously traveling brushes 34, which lightly brush across the plaques without exerting much pressure] thereon. The plaques next come in under the reciprocable sets of wires 52 and 53 which act to loosen any small portions of material from the plaques by a plowing action. The sets'of wires 52 and 53-alwaysplow from opposite directions and this in connection with the opposite inclination of the two sets insures that such portions as are not loosened by one set will undoubtedly be loosened by the next set when approached in a difi'erent direction and at a different angle. The particles loosened by the sets of wires 52 and 53 are then carried. laterally from the plaques by the continuously traveling brush 3 1. The cleaned plaques p then pass under roll 23 for the purpose described and are subsequently carried partially around roll 10 andallowed .todrop into a suitable receptacle. The particles of material removed from the plaques are carried by the brushes 33 and '34: into the receptacles 5a from which they may be removed from time to time as desired.

A'most important feature of theinvention consists in the arrangement, whereby the material adhering to the plaques is first loosened by a light plowing action and sub The purpose of:

removal of the particles is accomplished rather by a preliminary gentle plowing action for the purpose of sub-dividing the particles into particles of lesser size and a final and likewise light plowing action on theremaining unloosened particles and lightly brushing the loosened particles from the plaques after both the preliminary and final plowing actions. The traveling brushes are not capable of both'loosening and removing the particles unless they bear with considerable pressure on the plaques. Suchpressure is undesirable as being injurious to the wax coating, but by combinbrushing action, neither of which can cause injury to the wax coating ofthe plaques, the latter may be most effectively cleaned. The entire apparatus is also characterized by the elimination of rolls or equivalent devices which can act on the unclean portions of the plaque with a tendency to rub or force particles of chocolate or confectionery material into the waxed' surface ,of the plaques.

The invention has been disclosed in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes, but. the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is e 1. In a machinev of the class described,,a conveying means for plaques or the like and means laterally movable with relation to the conveying means to engage particles on said plaques obliquely to the direction of travel of the conveying means, andloosen the particles fromthe plaques.

- 2. In a machineof, the class described, a conveying means for plaques or the like, means laterally. movable with relation to the conveying means to engage particles on said plaques obliquely'to' the direction of travel of the conveying means and loosen the particles from the plaques, and means to lightly brush'the loosened particlesfrom the latter. 1

In a machine of the character described,.a conveying means for plaques or the like, means to lightlyengage. the suring a light plowing 'action with a light face of the latter and subdivide relatively 4:. In a machine of] the character dee scribed, a conveying means for plaques or the like, means to lightly engage the-sun face oi the latter andsubdivide relatively large particles of material adhering, thereto, means subsequently operable to loosen the subdivided particles, and-means to lightly brush the loosened particles from said plaques.

5. In a machine of the character described, a conveying means for plaques and the like, plowing means lightly engageable with the surface of the latter. to break up relatively large particles adhering to said surface, means to lightly brush particles loosened by the last-named means from the plaques, another plowing means to loosen remaining particles adhering to said surface, and means to lightly brush the particles loosened by the last-named means from said plaques.

6. In a machine of the class described, a conveying means for plaques or the like, a member reciprocable across said means, and a plu'ality oi": substantially U-shaped devices carried by said member to engage the plaques, the plaque engaging portion of said devices being arranged obliquely to the direction of travel of said conveying means, whereby particles adhering to the plaques may be loosened by said devices.

7. In a machine of the class described, a conveying means for plaques or the like, a member reciprocable across said means, a plurality of substantially U-shaped devices carried by said member to engage. the plaques, the plaque engaging portion of said devices being arranged obliquely to the direction of travel of said. conveying means, whereby particles adhering to the plaques may be loosened by said devices, and brushing means movable laterally across the conveying means, whereby particles loosened by said devices may be re moved from the plaques.

8. In a machine of the class described, a conveying means for plaques or the like, a set of substantially U-shaped members reciprocable laterally of said means and adapted to engage the plaques, each of said members having their plaque engaging portions disposed obliquely to the directions of travel of said conveying means, a second set of substantially U-shaped members reciprocable laterally of the conveying means and movable in a direction opposite tothe first-named set, each of the members of the last-named set having their plaque engaging portions arranged at an angle to the direction of travel of the'conveying means and being inclined oppositely to the members of the first-named set.

9. In a machine of the class described, a conveying means for plaques orthe like, a member reciprocable laterally ofsaid means,

aisct of substantially,.Uashaped devices carried bysaidmember and adapted to engage said plaques, the plaque engagingportion of said devices being-of corrugated shape, andv constructedto break up. and-subdivide relatively large deposits-orlumps of material adhering to saidplaques, and means to'subsequently loosen-the deposits subdivided by said devices.

10. Inamachine of the class described, a conveying means. for plaquesor the like, means .to loosen particles 'OlEi material adheringto the plaques, and traveling brush movable .across the conveying means to lightly engage the plaques and sweep the loosened particles therefrom.

.1 1. Inamachine. of the classdescribed, a conveying meansfor plaques or the like, means :to loosen particles of material adher ing'to the plaques, and a traveling brush continuously.movable across the conveying means in one direction .to lightly sweep the loosened;"particles from said plaques, and a receptacle arranged to receive such particlesawhereby the particles swept from the plaquesmay be deposited in said receptacle. y I

12. Ina machine-of the class described, aconveying means for plaques or the like, meansto loosen particles of material adhering to the plaques, and atraveling brush continuously movable across the conveying means'in'one direction to lightly sweep the loosened particles from said plaques, and a; receptacle through which said brush is arranged to travel, whereby the particles swept from the plaques may be deposited in said receptacle.

13. In a machine of the class described,

a conveying means for plaques or the like, a member reclprocable ad acent and sub stantially -at right angles to the direction of travel of said'conveying means, a plurality of substantially U-shaped wires mounted on said member iii spaced paral e1 relation, and means-to yieldingly force said member toward, the "conveying means, whereby the cross bar portion of said Wires may lightly engage the plaques on said means, the, cross bar portions of said wires being inclined to the direction of travel of the conveying means;

14. In a machine of the class described, a conveying means for plaques or the like, a member 1 reciprocable adjacent and substantially atright angles to the direction of travel of said conveying'means, a plurality of substantially -U -sha'ped wires mounted on said member in spaced-parallel relation, and means to-yieldingly force said member toward the conveying means, whereby the cross bar portion of said Wires may lightly engage the plaques on said means, the cross bar portions of said wires being inclined to the direction of travel of'the conveying of the conveying means, a plurality of substantiall y U-shaped wires mounted in closely spaced parallel relation on each member, means to lightly and yieldingly force each member toward the conveying means so that the cross bar portions of said wires will engage the plaques on the latter, the said portions on each member being inclined to the direction of travel of the conveying means, and said portions on one member being oppositely inclined to those on the other member.

16. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer for plaques or the like, plowing means reciprocable laterally of said means and arranged to engage the plaques on the latter to loosen deposits of material thereon, and means to remove the loosened deposits comprising a brush carrying endless band mounted to travel across and above the conveying means and so that in its lower travel the band moves parallel with the last-named means.

17. In a machine of the class described, a conveyer for plaques or the like, a device reciprocable laterally of the conveyer to en gage the plaques thereon and loosen and subdivide relatively large deposits of mate- Oopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

rial on the latter, a brush continuously traveling across the conveyer to sweep the deposits loosened by said devices from' the plaques, plowing devices reciprocable laterally of the conveyer to subsequently engage the plaques and loosen the subdivided deposits thereon, a brush continuously traveling across the conveyer to sweep the loos-v ened deposits therefrom, a commonoperating shaft for all said brushes and devices, 1 means on the shaft-to drive sald brushes continuously in one direction, eccentrics on the shaft, and connections between the latter and said devices to reciprocate the latter, the eccentrics for said plowing devices being arranged so that successive devices move in opposite directions.

18. In a machine of the class described, a conveyer for plaques or the like, a device reciprocable laterally of the conveyer to engage the plaques thereon and loosen and subdivide relatively large deposits of mate-.

rial on the latter, a brush continuously traveling across the conveyers to swee the deposits loosened by said devices rom the plaques, plowing devices reciprocable later- 1 ally of the conveyer to subsequently engage the plaques and loosen the subdivided deposits thereon, a brush continuously travel ing across the conveyer to sweep the loosened deposits therefrom, a common operating shaft to drive said brushes and recip rocate said devices, and a driving means for the Shaft and conveyer arranged to drive the former at a higher speed than the latter.

ALONZO. LINTON BAUSMAN.

Washington, D. G. 

